2643 Day Hill Rd 
Unit E 
Windsor, CT 06095
1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, 2nd Floor Apartment
$1200 per month
Heat, water and electricity included in rent!

Unique and spacious 1 bedroom apartment on the second floor above a commercial space. Location cannot be beat! At the very end of Day Hill Rd on the Bloomfield/Windsor line. Easy access to I-91 with lots of businesses and restaurants nearby. Bedroom has plenty of space and light. Lots of closet space for storage. Heat, water and electricity are included in rent!

Must have good credit.  No smoking, no vaping, no pets.  First month's rent plus two month's security deposit due at lease signing.  

Feeling super proud to be a part of the community that is Westfield, MA!  We had an amazing Shop Small Saturday at Blue Umbrella Books and just love seeing the participation in The LanternLight Parade increase each year.  Thanks to everyone who came out in downtown Westfield yesterday! 

​I stole the article & photos below from MASSLIVE.COM  It was written by Hope E. Tremblay.  Click the link provided to see the original article and all of the photos.  

WESTFIELD - An estimated 3,000 people celebrated the start of the holiday season in downtown Westfield Saturday night during the LanternLight Parade and the Mayor's Tree Lighting.

Park Square was aglow with holiday lights and sounds of the season as Noah Lis performed Christmas songs and 750 marchers paraded down Elm Street onto the green.

Erica Mclean of Westfield joined the crowd with her son and daughter and said it has become a family tradition.
"This is our third year coming and now I really feel like it's the holiday season," she said. "This is wonderful -and my daughter is very excited to see Santa."

The former Springfield resident moved to Westfield several years ago and said she enjoys the community spirit.
"I love Westfield," said Mclean.

Westfield On Weekends (WOW) founder Robert Plasse, dressed as the Ghost of Christmas Present, greeted the crowd and remarked on the number of participants.

"WOW couldn't be prouder of this great event," said Plasse. "We have a great city, as you know, and it gets better and better every year."
​
Danny and Lucille Nason, along with a crew of volunteers, organized a lantern making workshop at South Middle School Saturday morning. Families made 200 lanterns using supplies donated by City Package, Wal-Mart, Big Y and Stop & Shop.

"We had about 500 people come through," Lucille Nason said, giving credit to the volunteers and custodial staff at South Middle School.

This year, the workshop included cookie decorating, a noisemaker craft and a visit from the jolly elf himself, Santa.
"This was our biggest year yet," said Danny Nason. "The first year we had six people dressed in their Dickens Days costumes parade from the fire station and circle the green once. . . this is amazing."

The parade still included costumed marchers advertising the upcoming WOW Dickens Days events, along with several floats, children riding decorated bicycles, and many lanterns.

Mayor Brian P. Sullivan thanked everyone for participating.

"Thank you for coming down," he said, "it's all about community."

For Scotland native and Texas resident Eileen Duermyer, spending the night with her children and grandchildren was very special.  "I'm visiting my family in Westfield and I think this is wonderful," she said. "This is wonderful for kids and families and everyone is having a great time."  Duermeyer's daughter Jennifer Wilson agreed.
"This is fabulous," she said. "Westfield did a great job."
​
There were some minor technical difficulties at the event. Following the ceremony on stage and arrival of Santa by fire truck, Lis began to perform and the sound and tree lights went out. In keeping with the community spirit, the crowd continued to sing with Lis as technicians worked to get the lights and sound working again.

​The event included a performance by students at New England Dance Center and a visit from the Whip City Witches, dressed in their holiday finery. Lighting was supplied by Jay Pagluica.
Santa and Mrs. Claus visited children inside the gazebo after the ceremony.

The parade and tree lighting took place on Small Business Saturday. In downtown Westfield, merchants and restaurants welcomed shoppers throughout the day. At Blue Umbrella Books on Main Street, owners Russell Atwood, Jessica Martin, Andrew Preissner and Joyce Tuesday said it was a successful day.

The shop stayed open until the parade to accommodate holiday shoppers.

"It was a great day," said Martin. "Shop Small Saturday was awesome. We had a glassblower - Hugh Naggar - making gifts on the spot, and local author Susan Buffum here signing books. And holy moly, people bought books!"
Tuesday also offered her handcrafted Harry Potter-inspired wands, local honey and jewelry.

"I want to thank all the customers who came in," said Atwood. "They really made a point of coming to shop today."
​
WOW continues the holiday spirit in Westfield with the Dickens Days House Tours Dec. 3 from 12  - 5 p.m., beginning at 105 Elm St. and the Dickens Dinner, Dec. 15 and 16 at Tekoa Country Club. Visit westfieldonweekends.com for more upcoming events.

Welcoming Pregl Services, Inc. to Enfield, CT from Janesville, WI!  Pregl Services is growing and have decided to set up  their east coast operations here in Enfield.  Here's to a bright future in CT and to further expansion!  Welcome!  

Hatebreed is celebrating and they've invited Twitching Tongues to the party.  What fun!  I'm very excited to see my husband and his bandmates in Twitching Tongues, kick off the night for Hatebreed as they celebrate the anniversaries of two big records.    

I stole the article above from Blabbermouth, but if you click on it, it will link you to Hatebreed's site and tickets.  And if you're thinking about going to a show, definitely buy some tickets ahead of time, I've heard that Philadelphia and Chicago are close to selling out!  This is a great line up so don't sleep.  And get there early!  I happen to know the Twitching Tongues set is going to be wicked awesome.  

Lately I have been wearing my real estate hat much more often than my bookshop hat and though I still talk books with anyone who is willing as often as I can, I've been missing the daily "shop" talk.  So I was very pleased to have been invited to be a guest speaker at the Westfield Senior Center's book discussion group.  

The group's leader, Liz Boucher, invited me to their November meeting with enough notice that I was able to not only prepare a short talk for the group, but also to read their book of the month so that I could participate in their discussion.  Their book choice was Saints for all Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan. 

One of the many reasons I love book clubs and book discussion groups is that they force your to read outside of your preferred genre.  I'd love to read all Stephen King all the time, but my brain always has it's recommended daily allowance of The Dark Tower Universe and I know that some nonfiction here, a western there and a light sprinkle of National Book Award winners will keep my reading diet well-balanced.  I say that to say this; Saints for all Occasions is not a book I would have picked up on my own.  I'm glad I read it, but it will not make my top 10 of 2017.  I'll paste my official Goodreads rating and review at the bottom here for anyone interested.    

Another reason I love a book discussion group is that they bring together diverse groups of people who have recently shared the same experience but can all have different reactions to it.  Reading a book is such a solitary experience, you're all alone with the characters and the story and what you make of it all is your own.  Sharing your thoughts on a book you've recently finished with others who have read it is a great way to elevate that experience and see how the same book has different effects on different people and how the ideas of others can change your own.  I have a lot of friends who read, but we're rarely reading the same thing, so discussion groups give me the opportunity to connect with other readers who have thoughtful questions, answers and insights on my most recent "just finished".  

This group of seniors was wonderful!  They were a large group, I believe there were 16 members in attendance and what a discussion!  Everyone shared their thoughts on the book and conversation flowed from book specifics to how some of the members related to the book and characters to sharing real life experiences to how the book related to current events in the local and national media.  It was a very well rounded discussion that I enjoyed more than the actual book!  The only downside is that as a non-senior myself, I can't participate regularly!   

As promised... here's my review.  Click it to go to Goodreads and let's be friends if you're on there! 

Hartford's Taste of the Nation® for No Kid Hungry is touted as "the city's hottest and most trend-forward food and beverage event, bringing together award-winning chefs and mixologists from the region."  This year's event took place at Millwright's restaurant in Simsbury.   The evening started with a cocktail reception in their tavern complete with champagne, specialty cocktails and gourmet appetizers.   We then moved upstairs to the mill for a seated 5 course dinner... WOW!  Each course was prepared by one of the 5 participating award-winning chefs and each course was unique and delicious!  

The photos below are of the actual dishes I was served and ate, the chef pics I stole from a Google image search.  Scroll over the photos for more information. 

Each chef came out of the kitchen to introduce their dish prior to service and each was paired with a wine.  There was a live auction, party favors and lots of great conversation.  Hartford's Taste of the Nation event gives locals the opportunity to taste dishes from several acclaimed chefs in one meal all while raising money for a great cause.  If it sounds like something you'd enjoy, Click the links to follow the event so you don't miss it next year!    

It was 8 years ago today, on a Friday the 13th that I threw on my best KISS t-shirt and married my best friend.  Shout out to Sean Martin for being the best husband, lover, friend a girl could want.  Thanks for keeping me on my toes, opening my mind, supporting my choices, making me laugh, tucking me in and loving all of me, all of the time, no matter what.  Here's to making each year better than the last!  

How long have you been married and what's the secret your success? 

These guys moved from CA to MA and didn't see their house until their closing walk through.  I'm so happy they were so happy! 

We had a pretty good date last night, I mean, how can you beat dinner and show on a Monday evening?  Most people probably think that having a third wheel at dinner might make things a little awkward...  not the case when you experience the extreme pleasure of our friend Daryl's company.  (I've also just realized, that I was actually the third wheel on this date!)  

After spending some QT catching up while eating & drinking, we headed over to the Upstate Concert Hall to check out the Glassjaw show.  Holy. Cow.  I've been a Glassjaw fan from the beginning and have seen them play a lot over the last 20 years and I've never been disappointed.  But last night was next level.  Holy. Cow.  They played for 90 minutes, the set was awesome, they've got an LED light show to enhance the experience and they've never sounded better.  If you've ever liked Glassjaw, do yourself a favor and get out there and see them on this run.  You can thank me later.    

This is embarrassing to admit but I am one of those people who washes my face with a bar of soap in shower every morning, roughly wipes away my make up at night then occasionally slaps on some moisturizer and I call that my skin care regimen.  As a lady who is closer to 40 than I've ever been before (it's not right around the corner, but the corner after that. LOL), I've decided it's time to start taking better care of the largest organ I've got in hopes of hanging on to a more youthful appearance for as long as possible.  

Dear Google,
How can I take better care of my skin? 
Thanks for your help in advance, 
​Jessica

A facial is essentially a multi-step skin treatment that is one of the best ways to take care of your skin. A facial cleanses, exfoliates, and nourishes the skin, promoting a clear, well-hydrated complexion and can help your skin look younger. ... A facial is the second most popular spa treatment after a massage.

​Thanks, Google!  Off to the spa, I go.  

Enfield, did you know we had a beautiful new med spa, right on Hazard Avenue near Planet Fitness?  I was very pleased to easily find Aum Aesthetics conveniently located on Hazard Avenue but set back from the road with plenty of parking and no traffic noise.  

When I arrived for my appointment, I was invited to have a seat in the lounge, I was offered a beverage and as I sipped my coconut water, I talked with the spa owner and the aesthetician that would perform my treatment about  my skin's condition and my facial options.  We decided collectively that the fall special  (see final image for details) was the one for me and I was led to a cozy private room to get started.  I had a microdermabrasion treatment followed by a sweet potato face mask that smelled good enough to eat.  My aesthetician, Vanessa, described each step she performed and explained the products she was using and their benefits.  As she talked and worked I started to feel like I was on an exotic vacation at a fancy resort somewhere, I was in heaven, I certainly couldn't be just down the road from my office!

If you haven't had a facial before, you may not know that it isn't just the slapping on and removing of healthy skin products... you are cleansed, you are massaged, you are snuggled in comfortable blankets and left in a quiet room while your facemask steams and are allowed to just bask in comfort.  For you spa veterans, Aum Aesthetics will not disappoint.  It was beautifully designed, has a perfectly relaxing ambience and outstanding customer service.      

Because they are a medical spa, the services they offer go beyond the traditional day spa menu.  In addition to facials, waxing and massage, they offer eye lash extensions, laser hair removal, eyebrow microblading, light therapy and more!  My friend Kim had her eye lashes done and they came out amazing! 

So if you, like me, want to start taking better care of yourself inside and out it's time to treat yourself to an appointment at Aum Aesthetics!  You don't have to go far to relax and enjoy yourself or to get that med-spa treatment you've been interested in but didn't know you had access to locally.

My skin looks and feels so good since my sweet potato facial, I've already made my December appointment and plan on becoming a regular client.  I'll let you know it goes!